The Me That Remains
By Amy Grant
Reviewed by Robert J. Keeley
It has been 13 years since Amy Grant released new music—eventful years for the singer songwriter who became a household name when Age to Age released 44 years ago.
But heart surgery and then a bicycle accident and head injury required her to relearn a number of things, including how to sing and play guitar.
As she came to terms with these changes, new songs emerged that resulted in The Me that Remains, an indie release and her best album in four decades. Grant’s relaxed vocal style fits these songs about longing and loss beautifully. The title track, in which she reflects on who she is now, is especially beautifully written and performed, but the album is full of songs that make the listener want to pay attention. (Thirty Tigers)
All Booked Up
By Melody Carlson
Reviewed by Ann Byle
Veteran fiction writer Melody Carlson offers a delightful story readers will love. Protagonist Rita Owen is an older woman, which is nice to see when it comes to life and romance. Second, there are so many books!
Rita, who doesn’t want to give up her home and, more importantly, her library, decides to take in lodgers to make ends meet. The ensuing personality quirks, drama, and potential romance with a tenant’s older brother make for a bit of craziness, but using classic books to help those around her begins to calm everyone. People change, forgiveness is given, and life for Rita and her housemates settles down in a lovely ending.
This is fiction with a Christian worldview that will make a great addition to many summer reading lists. (Revell)
Too Sick to Pray: A Theology of Outlaw Country
By C. M. Howell
Reviewed by Robert J. Keeley
In 1969, struggling country artist Kris Kristofferson released “Me and Bobby McGee,” marking the beginnings of “Outlaw Country.”
In this book, theologian and musician C.M. Howell notes the religious undertones of many of the songs of Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and others. The faith journeys of these writers is hardly the stuff of inspirational books. They have struggles, doubts, and many questions. Howell, however, pulls apart their lyrics and the music to find how each of them writes about God, faith, and salvation.
Howell’s facility with theology and music is evident in the way he analyzes both the texts and the music of these fascinating artists. Too Sick to Pray is a valuable resource for any country music fan who wants to explore the music more deeply. (Fortress Press)
Trust the Wings
By Barbara Schultze
Reviewed by Sonya VanderVeen Feddema
Barbara Schultze’s debut novel gently portrays how personal adversity might just be an individual’s pathway to spiritual and emotional growth.
As the year 1999 draws to a close, 28-year-old Aviana Lehrer is convinced that in the next century her nursing career will achieve new heights. But a devastating betrayal and a shocking discovery that her aging father has been arrested set Aviana on a hard path. When she finds herself back at her father’s house, the extent of his deterioration forces Aviana into a role as his caregiver.
Though Aviana struggles to feel like she belongs anywhere, even in her relationship with God, she eventually realizes that “she did belong—right where she was, from one day to the next. Not in striving for prestige … but in opening her wings to love.” (Edenridge Press)
The Lowdown
Written by Barbara M. Britton: In Across the Lake:Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee, readers will discover the life-changing power of Jesus in six short stories from the Gospel of Mark. The miracles of Jesus will leap from the page in a biblical fiction story, author reflection, and relatable study. (Scrivenings)
Starring, Well, Everybody: In The Odyssey, Homer’s opus comes to life as Odysseus, king of Ithaca, embarks on a perilous journey to return home after the Trojan War. With Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and more. (July 17, Netflix)
Ma, Pa, Laura, and Mary Return: Showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine’s fresh adaptation of Little House on the Prairie promises an authentic, sweeping take on Laura Ingalls Wilder's iconic books, blending hopeful family drama with gritty frontier survival. The show has even secured an early Season 2 renewal. (July 9, Netflix)
Written by Pastor Melle Pool: In Managing Conflict: A Pastor's Account of Shepherding Congregations to Health and Renewal, CRC pastor Pool asserts that rather than rejecting or avoiding conflict, it must be managed so that it may become a force for good in our personal and church life. (Friesen Press)